PIERRE, South Dakota — South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed two new bills into law aimed at strengthening commercial driver licensing standards, including English language proficiency requirements and stricter rules for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses.

On March 10, 2026, Governor Rhoden signed Senate Bill 164 and Senate Bill 180, measures state officials say are intended to improve roadway safety and tighten eligibility standards for commercial drivers.

Senate Bill 164 requires commercial driver’s license holders to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Senate Bill 180 modifies requirements related to non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses.

In announcing the legislation, Rhoden said the bills satisfy President Donald Trump’s call for states to adopt what has been referred to as “Dalilah’s Law,” which seeks to raise English proficiency standards and prevent undocumented immigrants from obtaining CDLs.

“These bills are commonsense steps to improve public safety by guaranteeing that truckers can read our road signs and making sure that only citizens and legal immigrants hold CDLs,” Rhoden said. “South Dakota will continue to prioritize strong licensing standards so all drivers are traveling safely and responsibly.”

The governor also stated that the South Dakota Department of Public Safety recently conducted an enforcement operation in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officials also reviewed procedures related to non-domiciled CDLs to ensure that individuals without legal status are not receiving or operating under commercial driver licenses in the state.

“Dalilah’s Law” is named after Dalilah Coleman, who was injured in a June 20, 2024 crash in California involving a semi truck driven by Partap Singh. Authorities said Singh was an Indian national present in the United States illegally at the time of the crash and was later taken into ICE custody and deported to India in September 2025.

Dalilah, who was five years old at the time of the crash, suffered severe head trauma and remained in a coma for three months. Doctors initially believed she would not survive or regain basic functions. She ultimately recovered and is now attending first grade.

The push for stronger CDL requirements has also coincided with federal efforts over the past year to tighten citizenship standards for non-domiciled CDLs and increase enforcement of English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.

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